Last Night

Chapter 14

For the past few days Kara has been staying by Lena's side as often as the nurse will let her. She hasn't even gone home in days despite Alex's constant insistence that she get some rest.
Alex is getting both worried and frustrated, but Kara can't stop thinking of Lena.
This all comes to a head in the form an argument over Lex- who's calling himself Xander now.
"What if this is all just a set up by Lex?" Alex asks her sister in a harsh whisper as she stands, abruptly from her chair.
"No, I believe what Xander said. Besides that's not Lex's style."
"I think Lex would do just about anything to get to Lena." Alex counters.
"He's already lost. I can handle whatever Xander's trying to do, good or bad."
"Fine Kara," Alex sighs, "But it's her life at risk." She looks to Lena pointedly.
"You think I don't know that? That I  haven't considered every possible way this could go wrong?" Kara struggles to maintain a whisper, her voice breaking.
"Why do you think I won't leave her side? It's because I can't bear the thought of losing her, or not being there for her if he ever did try something.
"I'm not going into this blind. Don't you ever accuse me of disregarding Lena's safety."
———-
Lena finally wakes up, and is seemingly unfazed by the whole incident.
"I stoped caring about them after the third attempt on my life." She claims.
But Kara wonders if that's the whole truth.
———
As Lena's being discharged Alex calls Kara.
"I'm sorry about earlier, I'm just worried about what Lex could do. I let my worst fears get the better of me, but I shouldn't have yelled at you like that."
"I'm sorry too, I'm just so worried about Lena. And I know Xander only has good intentions."
"I hope you're right."
———-
Eventually once Lena's settled at home and feeling better Kara has to find a way to bring up Xander. There really isn't a right time to drop a bomb like this, so Kara decides that this afternoon is as good as any.
"So I met someone recently who I think you should meet. He's back in town after being gone for a decade, he's done some really amazing research on global warming that I think you would appreciate."
"Kara, I'm not really ready to get back into work yet.." Lena says, frowning into her mug of tea, "besides, aren't you the one always telling me I work too much?" She tries for a joke but it falls flat.
"No, I know, that's not the reason I think you should meet him... you see he goes by Xander, and-" she sees the look of fear and recognition on Lena's face and tries to rush through her explanation. "No he's not- not exactly who you're thinking! He left ten years ago and was replaced-" Lena doesn't exactly hear the end of Kara's explanation before she starts yelling.
"You of all people are trying to get me to visit my brother?! The brother who has nearly killed me on numerous occasions? God Kara who do you think I am? Who do you think you are?" Kara winces a little at that.
"Lena your not listening.. I'm not trying to get you to visit your sadistic brother. I'd never let him anywhere near you- what I'm trying to say is I met this guy who claims he left ten years ago and was replaced by this... creation of your mother's. He's your real brother. The one who did love you, not that thing trying to kill you." Lena isn't speaking and Kara isn't sure if she fully understands. "I'm not trying to make you do anything... I'm just telling you. I had J'onn confirm through both mental and DNA testing, that this man is your brother. He's been in Antarctica for the past ten years. The person who's been after you is some sort of clone made by your mother when she learned that Lex couldn't be manipulated into doing her bidding." Lena's just siting there stunned and Kara's starting to wonder if this was the right thing to do after all. "I know this is a lot- I'm sorry for telling you like this but I don't know how else to do it, I can't keep it from you forever."
"I- I don't- my brother?" Lena tries to get out, "he's not...evil?" Her voice sounds broken and yet there's a spark of hopeful disbelief in her eyes.
"No, quite the opposite actually, he's done amazing things for the environment." Lena cracks a small smile and Kara can't help but smile too.
"Does he- do they? Look the same?"
"Yes, identical, however i did tell Xander to buy a wig and grow a beard so he looks a bit different now." A small smile smthng Lena at this.
"He always was touchy about his hair... How did you even meet him?"
"He was coming home to see you, and he heard you were in the hospital I guess. He showed up to your room and I lost it on him because I didn't know."
"Oh god Kara, what did you do?"
"There was a lot of yelling... I may have broken his finger."
"Oh god," Lena lets out a laugh, some of the tension Finally leaving her.
"I was just trying to protect you!"
"I love you."
"I love you too."